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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

RIA Novosti reports that cosmonaut Yelena Serova, the first female cosmonaut of the post-Soviet era, may fly to the International Space Station in 2013, according to Roscosmos chief Vladimir Popovkin.

The flight could take place some time in 2013, as it takes 2½ years to prepare a crew, Alexei Krasnov, director of Roscomos manned flight programs, said.

Serova said she had always dreamed of making a space flight, adding that her husband (also a cosmonaut) and her nine-year-old daughter, approved of her decision.

As crew assignments have made through 2014, if Serova is assigned to a flight in 2013, she'll be replacing a fellow cosmonaut. But if she does fly, Serova may be in space for the 50th anniversary of Valentina Tereshkova's flight in June 2013.

cosmos-walter

Michael Tyurin and Maksim Surayev may become member of the Duma. Thus Jelena could get one of their assignments.

music_space

Maksim Surayev at the Duma, hey? I knew his protege Guy Laliberte would be pulling strings for him!

I always fantasized that when Laliberte was introduced to his commander, he must have said something like "Take me through this, chum, and I'll take care of you!"

That's what I would have done, anyway.

Anyway, it'd nice to see a Russian female cosmonaut on her way to the pad.

cosmos-walter

In October 2011 I met Yelena Serova and spoke with her and her husband. I would love to see her flying to ISS soon.

hoorenz

quote:Originally posted by cosmos-walter:Michael Tyurin and Maksim Surayev may become member of the Duma. Thus Jelena could get one of their assignments.

Tyurin's place would be more likely than Surayev's, since Surayev was supposed to be ISS-37 commander and would be replaced by a more experienced cosmonaut.

Tom

Just looking at the upcoming schedule, wouldn't it make more sense if Serova flew on Soyuz TMA-10M in Sergei Ryazansky's flight engineer position?

Tonyq

quote:Originally posted by Tom:...wouldn't it make more sense if Serova flew on Soyuz TMA-10M in Sergei Ryazansky's flight engineer position?

Can't imagine that would make too much sense to Ryazansky!!

Tom

Agreed... my comment was based on the assumption that someone from a flight in 2013 would be replaced.

AJ

Here's something I'm vaguely puzzled about. Technically, Kondakova was the first female cosmonaut to FLY after the dissolution of the USSR. However, she was selected when it was still the USSR. Is Serova referred to as the first post-Soviet female cosmonaut because of her selection date? And if that's the case, why?

Neil DC

If the Russian's really wanted to fly Serova to be in space for the June 2013 50th anniversary of Vostok 6, they would have to fly her on Soyuz TMA-08M and bump either Vinogradov or Misurkin according to the current crewing.

The next crew up with Surayev, Parmitano and Nyberg would have to meet ESA and NASA booked seats and need a military cosmonaut for the docking.

The crews later that year would not be in space for the anniversary. In theory, if they bumped the rookie Misurkin they could have Serova and Nyberg in space for that anniversary.

Of course, we have seen these kind of Soviet era stunts before. Despite Kondakova's flight(s), probably because of her marriage to Chief Cosmonaut Valery Ryumin, the arguably more talented cosmonaut Nadezhda Kuzhelnaya was selected and never allowed to fly.

It will be interesting to see if Serova actually makes it into space at all. Fingers crossed for her.

Tonyq

quote:Originally posted by Neil DC:If the Russian's really wanted to fly Serova to be in space for the June 2013 50th anniversary of Vostok 6, they would have to fly her on Soyuz TMA-08M... they could have Serova and Nyberg in space for that anniversary.

You make an interesting point and suggest an intriguing scenario, although it would be quite sad if, even after 50 years, a female cosmonaut could still only get into space as part of a 'stunt'.

Robert Pearlman

According to 'anik' on NASA Spaceflight:

Elena Serova will fly with Dmitriy Kondratyev in September 2014 (Expedition 41/42), Maksim Surayev will be replaced by Fyodor Yurchkhin in Expedition 36/37.